Ford recalls 30,000 PJ, PK Ranger utilities

Ford Australia has recalled more than 30,000 PJ and PK Ranger utilities over issues with the bonnet strikers and the automatic transmission.

In total, 30,465 PJ and PK Ranger models have been recalled to replace the bonnet striker. The affected models include certain PJ Rangers built from 8 September 2006 to 5 August 2008, and certain PK Rangers built from 24 April 2010 to 11 June 2010.

The official recall notice reads:

“Whilst a secondary safety hook will retain the bonnet in the event of a striker failure, continued use in severe road conditions may cause the secondary safety hook to fail which may result in the bonnet opening while driving, hindering the visibility of the driver.”

Ford says there is the possibility that after extended periods of driving in severe road conditions, the bonnet striker may develop a fatigue fracture. Ford is aware of one reported incident in the field.

The second recall is for PJ Ranger models only and applies to those fitted with an automatic transmission built between 15 May 2007 and 25 July 2008.

In total, 4110 vehicles have been recalled over the automatic transmission shift cable bracket defect, which may lead to “high shift efforts or no shift for selected gears”.

Ford Australia product communications manager Peter Fadeyev confirmed all the 4110 vehicles recalled for the automatic transmission defect will also be affected by the bonnet striker recall.

“All the PJ and PK Rangers that have the bonnet striker will come in, that’s the intention,” Mr Fadeyev said. “The transmission affected vehicles overlap inside there so it will be all 4110 shift cable bracket vehicles will also be bonnet striker affected as well.”

Ford says the shift cable bracket fitted to affected vehicles may not meet specification and may result in the bracket cracking or breaking. It has received “several field reports” of this problem.

Ford will replace all recalled transmission cable brackets as a precautionary measure to avoid potential failures.

Ford Australia will write to owners of all affected vehicles at their last known address and encourage people seeking more information to contact their authorised Ford dealer.